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KIZAD, the industrial free zone and subsidiary of Abu Dhabi Ports, is now the home of the KIZAD Polymers Park. Catering to a wide variety of markets, including 3D printing and material composites, the park is set to contribute an estimated $500 million to exports from the UAE each year.

Launched with the objective of bringing foreign investments to the region, KIZAD has already earned the support of 20 local polymer companies, and is in partnership with key raw materials suppliers. The park also has an environmental conscience concerning plastics.

Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, CEO of Abu Dhabi Ports, comments, “Polymer markets are growing fast owing to high demand for these products. We at Abu Dhabi Ports are working through KIZAD to address the needs of companies operating in the polymer sector via world-class logistics services, warehouses, and integrated infrastructure as well as sustainability initiatives to put an end to plastic waste.”

In recent years, many areas across the UAE have benefited from shared drive for technological excellence. Through the Dubai’s Future Accelerators program, startups have acquired funding needed to set up business in the city. At the 2017 Global Manufacturing and Industrialization Summit, GE pledged its support to create Abu Dhabi’s first additive manufacturing micro-factory.

The KIZAD Polymers Park is part of the government’s Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030, designed to reduce the capital’s reliance on the oil sector as a source of economic activity – though the park does have the support of ADNOC (Abu Dhabi National Oil Company) as a raw materials producer.

Abdulaziz Alhajri, Director of the ADNOC Downstream Directorate, says “ADNOC is proud to collaborate with Abu Dhabi Ports and KIZAD to further strengthen and develop the UAE’s conversion industry,”

“Together, we will work to ensure alignment with the Ruwais Derivative & Conversion Parks and other industrial parks catering to different parts of the polymers value chain, offering investors a wide choice of options, while also building on synergies.”

Polysys Additive Technologies Middle East is one of the 20 polymer companies already located with the KIZAD Polymer Park. A joint venture of South Korean chemicals company Songwon Industrial, and specializes in the production of pelletized additives, particularly those made from polypropylene. Joining Polysys is Gulf Compound Blending, Cosmoplast, Interplast, Industrium, and Schmidt Middle East among others.

When fully operational, the KIZAD Polymer Park is expected to produce 300-400 kilo tonnes of plastic products a year, and contribute $2.5 billion to the emirate GDP by 2025.

Samir Chaturvedi, CEO of KIZAD, concludes, “The Park will source energy supplies from a variety of sources at some of the region’s lowest utility rates and support initiatives to commercialize the recycling of plastic waste,”

“We look forward to collaborating with ADNOC to create a hub where polymers convertors can produce their products faster, cost effectively, and sustainably.”

Beau Jackson is Senior Journalist at 3D Printing Industry. With a longstanding commitment to the site's content, she is credited with producing more articles than any other author in its history. Well-versed in the latest 3D printing research and legal/regulatory challenges, her repertoire spans aerospace, automotive, maritime, medical and creative industries. She is a keen speaker and active representative of the company at key additive manufacturing events.